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Lesson 214 of 240

New here? This is lesson 214 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Ana is at the studio with Marcus. He looks at her front sketches for the library and gives notes in a kind, clear way.

You will learn how to say what works, what needs a small change, and what to try instead.

Start with a soft line so the other person does not feel hurt. Then say what is good. Then name the one thing to change.

Color uses US spelling. Keep the notes short and kind, like Marcus.

By the end of this lesson

Say what works, what needs a change, and what to try instead.

  • Don't take this the wrong way.I am not trying to hurt your feelings.
  • Overall, this is working well.Most of this is good.
  • This part could use a small change.Please adjust this one area a little.
  • I think the color is too bright.The color feels stronger than it should.
  • Would it be better if we tried this instead?Should we change it to this other option?
  • I like the second version best.The second one is my favorite.

Scene — the sketches on the desk

Same weekday afternoon at the studio downtown. Ana sets two front sketches on the long desk. Marcus has rolled drawings under one arm.

The library doors look too bright on the first sheet. The second version is quieter. A blank whiteboard sits behind them.

Ana lays two library-front sketches on the long desk while Marcus stands beside her with rolled drawings under one arm.

Learn — what works and what to change

Six lines help you give notes at work. You start kind, then say what works, then name a small change.

You also pick a better option and say which version you like.

  1. Marcus raises an open palm toward the sketches in a careful, considerate gesture.

    Don't take this the wrong way.

    I am not trying to hurt your feelings.

    When to use it: Say this before a note that might hurt.

    Learn it as one piece. It makes a hard note feel kinder.

    Say it: The stress is on wrong.

  2. Marcus sweeps an open hand over both sketches in an approving motion as Ana stands across the desk.

    Overall, this is working well.

    Most of this is good.

    When to use it: Say this first, before you name a problem.

    Overall looks at the whole thing, not one small part.

    Say it: The stress is on all in Overall.

  3. From behind Marcus, his hand points to a small area on the brighter first sketch as Ana looks across the desk.

    This part could use a small change.

    Please adjust this one area a little.

    When to use it: Point to one area and do not redo the whole piece.

    Could use means it needs that thing, in a soft way.

  4. Marcus tilts the first sketch to study the vivid red doors against the brick color in the drawing.

    I think the color is too bright.

    The color feels stronger than it should.

    When to use it: Use this when a color feels too strong.

    Color uses US spelling, and I think keeps the note polite.

    Say it: Color has stress on the first part.

  5. In profile, Ana turns the quieter second sketch toward Marcus as another option.

    Would it be better if we tried this instead?

    Should we change it to this other option?

    When to use it: Offer a new option after you name the problem.

    Would it be better if is a polite way to suggest a change.

    Say it: Would and it can link.

  6. Marcus leans on the desk with a settled posture, his attention on the quieter second sketch.

    I like the second version best.

    The second one is my favorite.

    When to use it: Choose one version after you have seen two or more.

    Best here means the one you like more than the others.

Story — two versions

Watch Marcus review Ana's two front sketches. He likes the second version, then flags the color.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Afternoon light hits the long desks. Ana sets two library-front sketches down.
  2. MarcusOkay. Let's look at the fronts.He wants to start the review now.
  3. AnaThese are the two versions. I can talk through them.She brought two options and can explain them.
  4. MarcusDon't take this the wrong way.I am not trying to hurt your feelings.
  5. AnaGo ahead. I want the honest notes.She is ready to hear a hard note.
  6. MarcusOverall, this is working well.Most of this is good.
  7. AnaThat's a relief. I was stuck on the doors.She feels calm now. The doors were the hard part.
  8. MarcusThis part could use a small change.Please adjust this one area a little.
  9. AnaCan you explain this part?Please tell me what this part means.
  10. MarcusI think the color is too bright.The color feels stronger than it should.
  11. AnaDid I get that right? The red on the doors?She checks that she understood. She means the red doors.
  12. MarcusYes, exactly. It fights the brick.He agrees. The red is too strong next to the brick.
  13. He slides a quieter color chip across the desk.
  14. MarcusWould it be better if we tried this instead?Should we change it to this other option?
  15. AnaA quieter color. I can try that this afternoon.She will try a less strong color today.
  16. MarcusI like the second version best.The second one is my favorite.
  17. AnaI'll go with that one, then.She will keep the second sketch.
  18. MarcusGood. Three sentences. That's the plan.He is happy. The notes were short and clear.

Practice — notes on the work

Eleven short exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

    What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Overall, this is working well.Drop the Simple English here
    This part could use a small change.Drop the Simple English here
    I think the color is too bright.Drop the Simple English here
    I like the second version best.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

  3. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    Marcus asks which sketch to keep. You like the later one more.

  4. What does it mean?

    What does it mean?

    Overall, this is working well.

  5. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    The color feels stronger than it should.

    I think the color is too ____.

  6. Build the line

    Build the line

    Please adjust this one area a little.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    Pick the reply

    I think the color is too bright.

    The color feels stronger than it should.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    Swap the word

    You are about to give a hard note on a sketch.

    Don't take this ____.

  9. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    You do not understand one part of the sketch and want Marcus to explain it.

  10. True or false?

    True or false?

    This line asks if you understood.

  11. Which one doesn’t belong?

    Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — say the notes

Now you're Ana in the studio. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. MarcusTalk me through the sketches. Be kind, but be clear.He wants her to give notes in a kind, clear way.
  2. Ana (you)Start in a kind way. You do not want to hurt him.

    Start in a kind way. You do not want to hurt him.

    Don't take this the wrong way.

    I am not trying to hurt your feelings.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Every line from this lesson
EnglishSimple EnglishPlay
Don't take this the wrong way.I am not trying to hurt your feelings.
Overall, this is working well.Most of this is good.
This part could use a small change.Please adjust this one area a little.
I think the color is too bright.The color feels stronger than it should.
Would it be better if we tried this instead?Should we change it to this other option?
I like the second version best.The second one is my favorite.
Next: lesson 215A short presentation

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